Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450
Leucania incognita
This record describes Leucania incognita (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
There are two principal North American populations, significantly different in superficial appearance. TEXAS Male FW is dirty light brown. A dark streak runs from the base of the wing to the discal dot and just beyond. Discal dot is a black spot, accented with white. PM line represented by a curved line of indistinct dark brown dots. A series of black spots along the outer margin. HW is white with a series of black dots around the outer margin. Female similar to the male, but more washed out and with the markings typically more vague, particularly the dark line from the base to the discal dot. vs FLORIDA FW is a rich, dark brown. A dark, prominent dash runs from the base of the wing to the discal dot to between the discal dot and the PMe. Discal dot a short white line. PM consists of prominent dark dots, sometimes connected into a dentate line. Dots along outer margin are present, but vague. HW white with a series of dark dots along the outer margin. a
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Leucaniini
- Genus
- Leucania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
A tropical and subtropical species that ranges into the southern United States. Primarily known from southern and central Texas, but the species has been collected from as far west and southern Arizona. In the east this species occurs in Florida. The species is also known to occur in Mexico, Central America, and the Antilles. a
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: incognita is Latin for "unknown"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Leucania incognita. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450
What is Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450?
Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450 (Leucania incognita) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450?
There are two principal North American populations, significantly different in superficial appearance. TEXAS Male FW is dirty light brown. A dark streak runs from the base of the wing to the discal dot and just beyond. Discal dot is a black spot, accented with white. PM line represented by a curved line of indistinct dark brown dots. A series of black spots along the outer margin. HW is white with a series of black dots around the outer margin. Female similar to the male, but more washed out and with the markings typically more vague, particularly the dark line from the base to the discal dot. vs FLORIDA FW is a rich, dark brown. A dark, prominent dash runs from the base of the wing to the discal dot to between the discal dot and the PMe. Discal dot a short white line. PM consists of prominent dark dots, sometimes connected into a dentate line. Dots along outer margin are present, but vague. HW white with a series of dark dots along the outer margin. a
Where is Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450 found?
Range: A tropical and subtropical species that ranges into the southern United States. Primarily known from southern and central Texas, but the species has been collected from as far west and southern Arizona. In the east this species occurs in Florida. The species is also known to occur in Mexico, Central America, and the Antilles. a
What does Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450 eat?
The diet of the Leucania incognita - Hodges#10450 includes Unknown.